What is a MOOC?A MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is a new kind of online course, distinctive for having unlimited, open and free enrolment. Many prominent universities and organisations are offering MOOCs. Some MOOCs are relatively small, with hundreds of participants. Others have had tens or even hundreds of thousands of people enrolled. There is clearly appetite amongst citizens for new learning opportunities, and MOOCs have put online distance learning at the top of many education agendas.

How much time does it take to do a MOOC?Each course will specify how many weeks it will take, and a rough time investment per week that is required to successfully engage with the material, complete the assignments and 'pass' the course. However, the evidence is that only about 10% of MOOC participants invest that level of time, or even necessarily seek to 'complete' a course. Because these courses are free, people use them in all sorts of ways, from generally getting a feel for the subject matter, to engaging with some of the content but not all, to making connections with others via the discussion forums. So, you may want to enrol in a MOOC just to satisfy your curiosity, to explore a little of a subject area, or to complete the full course and receive a certificate. Don't let lack of time put you off from exploring.Do I have to start and finish on the dates specified for the MOOC?Most MOOCs have start and end dates, and if you want to complete the assignments and have the opportunity to discuss the topics with other MOOC participants, you should follow the course structure reasonably closely. However, once you have enrolled for a MOOC, your access to the course site will not be time limited, so you can return at any time to consult the content, even after the course finishes.Can I study my chosen MOOC during work time?As with other development opportunities, you should speak to your line manager to discuss whether a specific MOOC is appropriate to your role. If it is, your line manager can then advise how much time you can be allocated and when you could do this. Even if a MOOC is not appropriate to your role, this should not inhibit you from completing it in your own time. In either case, you are free to use the Learning Centre to participate in the MOOC should you wish. This can be booked via the Helpdesk.

What technology or software do I need?Most MOOCs require only a modern web browser to participate. So, you should be able to access your course from your home computer or laptop, and from mobile devices (like a tablet or smartphone). The default browser on the Parliament PCs is not currently compatible with courses on the Coursera platform. However, the Google Chrome browser installed on your Parliament computer will load and run all of the MOOCs.

How do I find what I'm looking for on the http://www.mooc-list.com web site?The mooc-list web site lists hundreds of courses. There are a few ways to make finding the course you want easier:

sort by courses in 'ascending' order. By default, the courses are listed in reverse order of start date, with those starting further in the future listed first. If you use the drop down menu at the top of the page to sort by 'Asc' (ascending) instead of 'Desc' (descending), you can see courses that have recently started listed first.

use the search box. If you are looking for courses on a specific topic, use the search box near the top right of the screen to search by keyword. Search results may take you to a new category, or to specific courses related to your topic.

use the 'browse MOOCs by' menu. The menu along the top right of each page will let you see all courses offered by particular universities, based in particular countries, delivered in particular languages, and so on. This may be helpful if, for example, you want to find courses offered in languages other than English. You can also browse by 'tag' to get an overview of the many different topic areas available.

Where can I learn more about MOOCs? The following reports address MOOCs from a UK perspective: